Who's The Judge?

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” - Matthew 7:1 Have you ever been critical of someone or said something about someone's behavior and then heard these words: “Don't judge, or you too will be judged?” Is Jesus implying here that we may never evaluate people or make assessments about them? Does that mean that, as parents who have been given the responsibility of teaching our children right from wrong, we should not rebuke them for doing wrong or praise them for doing right? Might that lead to a detrimental spiritual, emotional, or relational result? The point Jesus is making is that we should judge fairly, not hypocritically. This is why He says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” A hypocrite is someone who tries to project a personal image that is false. They can pretend to live by moral principles while pursuing a lifestyle that defies the gospel. Of course, every honest Christian struggles with inconsistencies between faith and life. The apostle Paul acknowledged this when he said, “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19). That’s not to make an excuse; rather, it is to acknowledge that the difference between a struggling believer and a calloused hypocrite is desire. Do we “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), or do we seek our own? Answering those questions will reveal whether we are judging rightly or whether or not we have a judgemental spirit. As we gather together this week, we do so in celebration of the multitude of gifts that were on display during VBS week. Thank you to everyone who volunteered in some capacity and served. You did so with a smile and brought joy to each child and family that was represented. To God be the glory! Let’s cap off a great week by gathering together at 10 AM to worship, eat, and play.  Grace & Peace, Pastor Aaron